Honolulu
is a harbor city at the southern end of Oahu, the most visited island of the
Hawaiian archipelago (群岛). The city lies 2550 miles (4100km) southwest of Los
Angles; 3860 miles (6220km) southeast of Tokyo; 5060 miles (8150km) northeast
of Sydney; and 1470 miles (2370km) north of the equator. Not surprisingly, it's
a major hub for trans-Pacific air travel.
Downtown Honolulu contains all Oahu's state and federal government buildings,
including the state capitol and Iolani Palace, once home to Hawaii's last few
monarchs and still the only royal palace in the USA. Chinatown is a few blocks
northwest of the palace; the Aloha Tower and cruise ship terminals are a few
blocks west. Southeast of downtown, Waikiki is the epicenter (中心) of all things
touristic: all the big resorts and much of the city's nightlife are found here.
Just southeast of Waikiki, 760ft (230m) Diamond Head rises up as the city's
favorite geological landmark. All of these sites are within the boundaries of
greater Honolulu.

H-1,
the main south shore freeway, passes east-west through Honolulu, connecting
it to the airport and all other freeways on the island.

Honolulu
International (HNL) is a 9 mile (15km), 25 minute drive northwest of downtown
via Ala Moana Blvd/Hwy 92 (Nimitz Hwy) or the H-1. The Ala Moana Center, on
Ala Moana Blvd just northwest of Waikiki, is the central transfer point for
The Bus, the island's public bus network. Its routes branch across the island,
with each line's destination written above the bus' windshield (汽车的挡风玻璃). The
Ala Moana Center is the central transfer point. Overall, the buses are in excellent
condition - clean and air-conditioned - though buses on popular routes tend
to be packed (挤满了人) and their pace is always dawdling (速度缓慢). Setting your watch
by this system gives you nothing but a good sense of Hawaiian Time. The Waikiki
Trolley (无轨电车) is an expensive, tourist-laden open-air bus geared primarily
for sightseeing shopaholics (购物成癖的人). The attraction-lined route between Waikiki's
Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center and downtown Honolulu is narrated.

Oahu
is not a big island, and few places are more than an hour's drive from Honolulu.
If you plan on spending all your time in the resorts of Waikiki, forget about
renting, but if you plan to get beyond the city limits, a car is the easiest
way to do it. The minimum age to drive in Hawaii is 15 years, and most car rental
agencies hike that limit to 25. Gasoline is about 25% more expensive on the
island than on the US mainland. Driving is on the right.

Taxis
wait at most major downtown hotels and at the airport. Otherwise, you'll need
to phone for a cab. Bikes are available for rent in Honolulu and Waikiki, and
most bike shops provide maps, helmets (头盔) and locks. The city is poorly suited
for cycling, though, and most riders prefer to use their bikes for longer jaunts
(旅游) around Oahu.